Wilma Butts
Duality, 2022
Sericin scoured silk with felt backing 36" x 60"
This piece is one of a series of portraits that began to appear in my work during the restrictive isolation phase of the pandemic. This period of social isolation resulted in great hardship for people, on various levels. One of the significant struggles of this period was the drastic loss of human connection. Perhaps one of the benefits was an opportunity for increased self awareness. “Duality” explores the concept of the conscious and subconscious mind, the private and public face that we present and the duality and conflict inherent in being human.
Wilma Butts
Shadows Deep, 2022
Sericin scoured silk with felt backing 42" x 45"
This piece is one of a series of portraits that began to appear in my work during the restrictive isolation phase of the pandemic. This period of social isolation resulted in great hardship for people, on various levels. One of the significant struggles of this period was the drastic loss of human connection. Perhaps one of the benefits was an opportunity for increased self awareness.
Wilma Butts
Outside the Lines, 2022
Sericin scoured silk with felt backing 42" x 40"
This piece is one of a series of portraits that began to appear in my work during the restrictive isolation phase of the pandemic. This period of social isolation resulted in great hardship for people, on various levels. One of the significant struggles of this period was the drastic loss of human connection. Perhaps one of the benefits was an opportunity for increased self awareness.
Wilma Butts
Daisho, 2010
Silk & aluminum 24" x 80"
Daisho is a balance of light and dark, transparency and opacity. The floating quality of the weightless silk is grounded by the solidity of the metal. As in nature, balance is everything!
Wilma Butts
Daisho (detail), 2010
Silk & aluminum 24" x 80"
Daisho is a balance of light and dark, transparency and opacity. The floating quality of the weightless silk is grounded by the solidity of the metal. As in nature, balance is everything!
Wilma Butts
Anemone, 2007
Silk approx. 30" x 60"
Created using shibori shaped silk and fibre reactive dyes. This piece explores the transparent ethereal beauty of the underwater world. Anemone is alive with movement, texture and dimension.
Wilma Butts
Anemone (detail), 2007
Silk approx. 30" x 60"
Created using shibori shaped silk and fibre reactive dyes. This piece explores the transparent ethereal beauty of the underwater world. Anemone is alive with movement, texture and dimension.
Wilma Butts
Dusting, 2012
Paper, silk fibre, fibre reactive dye 14" x 37"
Inspired by a photo with the caption “Stone Dusting”, on display at the Glace Bay Miner's Museum. The photo shows a miner in the process of applying stone dust or calcium carbonate which helps to reduce the propagation of coal dust explosions in underground mines. The shock of white stone dust stands in dramatic contrast to the complete blackness of the mine.
Wilma Butts
Amanita 3, 2012
Silk, fibre reactive dye 6" x 19"
Amanita #3 explores the potential of using the texture and shading of shibori dyed and pleated silk as a sculptural medium. The texture created by the intricate thread bound, pole wrapped process has been captured in the silk fibre creating thousands of tiny knife edged pleats. The incredible 'memory' of silk makes this possible.
Wilma Butts
Autumnal, 2017
Paper, silk fibre, fibre reactive dye 36" x 46"
“Autumnal” was inspired by the iconic Canadian maple leaf. The symbol has instant recognition with Canadian identity, from our flag, to patches on backpacks, to an Olympic hockey jersey. The beauty of the maple leaf can be appreciated through all of our seasonal extremes. The first fresh green leaves of spring, the lush, cool canopy of summer, the blaze of colour in fall and crunch of texture in early winter. Each season holds it's unique beauty, but the true drama of the maple leaf is found for a short period in fall. “Autumnal” explores the dramatic colours and sculptural beauty of late fall leaves. The piece was created using rice paper with silk fibre. The paper was pleated and dyed using a Japanese shibori technique that results in an amazing organic texture. The delicate pleated paper shares the fragility of a crisp autumn leaf.